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August 6, 2009

Grand Opening: Tuttimelon. Again.

The Coming Soon signs are still posted inside, but there are banners all over the outside of Tuttimelon/Belgano announcing a "grand opening" this weekend - more than 9 months since they first opened their doors.

Festivities begin this Saturday at noon with free froyo. The first 50 people will get a door prize, and the first 500(!!) customers will be eligible for a raffle (Apple iTouch, Nintendo DSi, gift certificates). No word if the first 500 from last year are eligible (the counter help didn't know).

Note to aspiring small business owners: decide on a business, put a lot of thought and research into it up front, get your design down, do your decorating, and THEN open the doors. The old switcheroo, grand reopening, hybrid branding thing is a recipe for failure.

Went to the grand opening. I actually like tuttimelon yogurt and I'm glad I don't have to go out to Irving St or West Portal anymore to get it! Dags, there were a lot of people there around the time of the raffle. Crowd control could have been better, the sidewalk was blocked on both sides of the corner and there were several people standing in the street.

Tried their regular "tart" flavored yogurt. Not bad. I see why toppings are offered with this, though. The store has a slightly schizoid feel to it, with the yogurt, the gelato, and the chocolates. You might think they're related offerings, but I find myself asking: what is the store identity, the core offering here? I think this is often the make-or-break question for small shops, especially when the current economy is not so cooperative.

On the other hand, this is the only dessert place in Noe that stays open during (post-)dinner hours, so hopefully they'll be around for a while (although I have to admit, I still wish the juice place that used to occupy this place were still here).